Windshield deicing apparatus



DCC. 5, 1950 E, T, DUNCAN 2,533,000

WINDSHIELD DEICING APPARATUS Filed April 2, 1948 IN1/EN ToR. Edf/fam? Z'unraft ATTORNEYS d ih.

Patented Dec. 5, 1950 1Claim. (CLM-40.5)

This invention relates to a windshield deicing apparatus and, more particularly, to apparatus adapted to utilize thel exhaust gas from an-engine whereby the heat of said gas is utilized to Warm the windshield area of an automotive vehicle so as to prevent the formation of ice or sleet on the windshield of said vehicle.

'During the winter season, when the hazards of driving automotive and like vehicles are increased by the formation of ice or sleet on thewindshield of said vehicles, it is oftentimes necessary either to drive the vehicle very slowly or to stop driving and wipe the windshield so as to keep the windshield open for a view of the highway on which the vehicle is traveling.

With the above disadvantages in view, itis one of the objects of my invention to provide a system of deicing windshields of automotive vehicles such as cars, aeroplanes, trains and other movable units containing windshields by utilizing some of the spent energy of the vvehicle.

Another` object of this invention is to provide means for continually preventing the formation of ice or sleet on the Awindshields of moving vehicles and the like.

One other object of the invention is to provide controlled conduit means in connection with the exhaust system of an engine of a vehicle and the like and to utilize the energy coming oi from said engine to warm the windshield area of a vehicle. f

Still another object of the invention is to provide an economic, easily installable and operable deicing apparatus for use in the windshield area of self-propelled vehicles.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an operable, easily controllable windshield deicer for self-propelled vehicles and the like, which is adapted to utilize the waste heat energy of such vehicle. o

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of my invention as mounted on a selfpropelled vehicle;

out, a preferred embodiment of my invention is shown in connection withan automotive vehicle I0. In accordance with my invention as applied, for example, to an internal combustion engine I', the exhaust gases of such engine III' are utilized by connection, to the exhaust manifold line II of said engine, of a Y tube I2.

Branch I S of said Y tube I2 is connected to the muiiler line of the vehicle engine while the other branch of said Y tube is connected to a tube or conduit I5 extending from under the hood I6 of said vehicle to the outside of said hood and which is connected to gas conductor tube or piping Il, preferably of reduced size, which is disposed and secured to the marginal area of windshield I8 of said vehicle by means of a plurality of spaced securing posts I9 and 2U which extend from the roof 2i of the vehicle.

It is to be noted that said exhaust gas conductor tube I'i disposed along the frame of the windshield I8 is preferably of polygonal shape. Furthermore, said conductor I 'l is disposed and `spaced outwardly of said windshield area to prevent the gases in the conductor from injuri'ng the glass or the frame while, at the same time, throwing sufficient heat upon the windshieldA area to melt any sleet or snow or ice which forms on the windshield when the decer is not in use.

Said conductor I'i is provided with a continuing extension 22 which passes under the hooc It of said vehicle I@ preferably alongside of the area below the engine I0' of the vehicle so as tc permit the exhaust gases to escape into the aiJ as the vehicle is moving or through a supplemental muffler, not shown. The Y tube I3 whicl interconnects the exhaust. muiiier and windshield lines contains a two-way buttery valvn 23, as shown in Fig. 3. .Said valve has a spring member 24 which is connected to an enclosec cable 25 extending from said Y tube to the instrument dash panel or board 26 of the vehic1 and which is operated by a push and pull but ton 21 in said panel, in order todivert the flot of gases from the exhaust to either the gas con ductor I1 or through piping 28 leading to thl muiller of the vehicle.

Instead of the construction shown in Fig. Ii I may use the construction shown in Fig. 4. I1 said modification, I provide an extension 29 i1 Y tube I2, which tapers into a, nozzle 30. Th1 wider portion of said `nozzle 30 is connected tu conduit I5 in any suitable manner It is to b noted that said conduit has a plurality of per foratIons or openings 3| in its periphery prei when the exhaust gases escape'through branch I4 of Y tube I2, air from the atmosphere enters into conduit I5 through said openings 3|. By this modincation there is an admixture of air with the hot gases so as to reduce the temperature of.

said gases and thereby prevent blistering of the paint adjacent the gas conductor on the vehicle.

It will be noted that my invention, as described and shown herein,.can be connected to the exhaust line of any type of engine of a self-propelled vehicle or unit containing a windshield for permitting the operator ofthe vehicle to see through even when it is snowing or when sleet or loe is forming. The windshield wipers of the vehicle, when the windshield is kept warm by the gas conductor around the windshield, very easily remove any liquid forming on the windshield. Furthermore, my invention can be easily installed Iwithout materially changing the structure of the engine or of the chassis oi.' the self-propelled vehicle. The invention has been described in connection with an automobile. However, it is to be noted that it can be used in connection with other vehicles such as steam locomotives, or ships, where the steam can be utilized.

While a preferred embodiment of my invention has been described and shown herein, it is understood thatl certain modincations as to l'orm, use and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as claimed.

I claim:

Deicing apparatus for the windshield of an automotive vehicle, comprislnga Y tubular member extending from the exhaust line ot the engine of said line, and having a plurality of extensions, a. gas conducting line having a perforated portion communicating with one of the extensions of said tubular member and extending around the margin of the windshield area ot the vehicle and opening to the' atmosphere at a position below the windshield area, another conduit leading from the other of the extensions of the tubular member to the mumer line of said vehicle, said tubular member having an operable butterily valve, to divert the ilow of exhaust gases `from the exhaust line into either the mulller line or the gas conducting line, and means extending from the butterily valve to the vehicle .dashboard for actuating the valve to selectively divert the gas from the exhaust line to the gas conducting and muiller lines, said tubular member having a restricted nozzle in its gas conducting line above the butterfly valve to permit admxing of air with the exhaust gas as it passes around the windshield area.

' EDWARD T. DUNCAN.

REFERENCES CITED `The following references are of record in the ille of'this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS 

